Firecracker 100: Moran rallies late to take checkered flag
BUFFALO TWP — Devin Moran is nicknamed “The Mailman,” and he certainly delivered Saturday night.
The Dresden, Ohio resident won the 20th annual Firecracker 100 at Lernerville Speedway, pocketing $50,000 in the process.
“I’m an Ohio guy, but I have a big fan base in the Pittsburgh area,” he said. “I’ve always loved this place.”
Moran began the race in fourth place and fell out of the top five during laps 19-32, but then began a steady progression. He moved into fifth on the 33rd lap, fourth on the 38th lap, 3rd on the 45th and second four laps later.
He finally passed Brandon Sheppard, who had led throughout, for first place on the 80th lap. The latter earned back brief leads several times, including with nine laps left, but Moran eventually put him in the rear-view mirror for good.
Rain showers fell on the track earlier in the evening.
“I honestly think the rain kinda helped,” Moran said. “The top was still fast, but it got the rest of the track pretty fast as well. So we weren’t committed to the top like we were (Friday in preliminaries).”
Sheppard, from Illinois, paced the field for 80 of the 100 laps.
“I probably could have done a few things different, maybe it changes the outcome, maybe not,” Sheppard said. “Devin did a great job. There’s a lot of tough competition out here. Any of these guys can win on any night.
“I hate it for my team to lead that many laps and to lose it late.”
Moran’s victory was his sixth this year on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series tour, of which he is the defending national champion. He finished second in the Firecracker two years ago.
“That night, we started 16th and had to work really, really hard to get second,” he said. “This was my eighth time racing here, and I knew a big key was winning our heat race and starting in the top six or eight tonight. We did that and my guys made the right decisions, gave me a good enough car that I could make it work.”
Saxonburg’s Alex Ferree finished 11th after starting 23rd.
Max Blair, of Crawford County, won the 50-lap Bill Emig Memorial late model feature for the fourth time, which earned him $20,000.
“I didn’t think we really had a chance with Dave (Hess) and Mason (Zeigler) starting on the front row like that,” Blair said. “We definitely had a little luck on our side getting us up there, but once we got in front, I felt pretty good.”
Sarver’s Michael Norris finished in seventh place in both the Firecracker and the Emig Memorial. He was in the top five for much of the former, falling back on the 96th lap.
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Mike Norris (72) fights for position out of turn three during the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mike Norris (1) wheels spinning entering into turn three, during the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mike Norris (72) coming out of turn four during the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Alex Ferree (1) in traffic coming out of turn four, during the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mike Norris (72) kicking up dirt on the high side of turn four, during the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mike Norris (72) coming out of turn four right behind Max Blair (111) during the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mike Norris (72) on the high side coming out of turn four during the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Alex Ferree (1) just ahead of Ken Schaltenbrand (29) out of turn four during the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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During a caution, Alex Ferree (1) talks to a race official during the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Alex Ferree (1) during the caution flag of the Fast Shafts B-Main 1 race at the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Levi Yetter (10) stays ahead of Jared Miley (10) during the UNOH B-MAIN 2 race, at the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Devin Moran (99) celebrates his win after the 100 lap LOLMDS A-Main race at the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Coming out of turn three, Mike Norris (1) during the 50 lap Bill Emig Memorial Feature race at the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Max Blair (111) holds up his winning checked after the 50 lap Bill Emig Memorial Feature Race at the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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In turn three, Mike Norris (1) during the 50 lap Bill Emig Memorial Feature race at the Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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After the 100 lap LOLMDS A-Main race, drivers, left - Brandon Sheppard, second place, Devin Moran, first place, Hudson O'Neil, third place pose for a picture at Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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After the 50 lap Bill Emig Memorial Feature race, drives Left - Dave Hess, third place, Max Blair, first place, Christina Schneider, second place, pose for a picture at Firecracker 100 on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Lernerville Speedway. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
